New boxing champ raises eye-brows

Yazmin Usaith the youngest champion of the 2024 Layton Cup shows potential for international forays

by damith
October 27, 2024 1:19 am 0 comment 714 views

By Allaam Ousman
Yazmin Usaith (left) against an Army boxer at the Layton Cup 2024

Yazmin Muhammad Usaith has already made waves in Sri Lankan boxing, securing his place as a rising star in the sport. The southpaw from Central Province, Kandy, representing St. Sylvester’s Boxing Club, claimed the gold medal in the 2024 Layton Cup Boxing Tournament just a few days before his 20th birthday.

His remarkable victory, which came after defeating seasoned Sri Lanka Army boxer and international gold medalist KG Pathmasiri in the final, has put him in the spotlight. What makes this triumph even more special is that Usaith was the youngest competitor in the tournament and his potential is being recognised far and wide.

A product of St. Sylvester’s College in Kandy, where many boxing champions have been nurtured, Usaith has been trained by the reputed coach Jamitha Gayan Bandara. According to Bandara, Usaith has been a highly talented sportsman since his school days.

He first represented Sri Lanka at just 15 years old, an early indication of his prodigious talent and won his first international bout further showcasing his ability to compete on the big stage. Since then, he has blossomed into a gangly, power-punching middleweight (75kg) with tremendous elasticity in his movements, allowing him to effortlessly sway from punches and counter with precision.

In 2024, Usaith has remained undefeated in all tournaments in his weight class, a record that has firmly established him as one of the country’s top prospects. His journey to victory at the Layton Cup wasn’t easy. He faced two tough opponents from the Air Force and Army, including the highly regarded Pathmasiri, who was previously adjudged the Best Boxer at the national championships. But Usaith’s skill, tenacity and tactical brilliance shone through, earning him the title and cementing his reputation as a force to be reckoned with.

Coach Bandara is confident that Usaith has what it takes to achieve even more on the international stage. “Usaith has the ability to represent Sri Lanka and win an international gold medal in the Asian Under-22 Boxing Tournament,” Bandara says.

He stressed the importance of providing Usaith with the right support. “If players like Usaith are properly taken care of and given international training experience, Sri Lanka can achieve great things from him in the future,” said Bandara who also emphasized that unless an organisation steps forward and supports Usaith financially while ensuring his nutritional needs and resources to reach full potential, he could hit road blocks in realizing his goals.

With such backing, Bandara believes the country could develop a world-class boxer capable of bringing home international glory.

What sets Usaith apart is his combination of natural talent and hard-earned skills. He possesses an unorthodox ability to dodge and weave, displaying a level of agility rarely seen in fighters his age. His southpaw stance only adds to the challenge for opponents, making him a difficult boxer to pin down.

As a fighter from Kandy’s rich boxing tradition, his journey has been filled with relentless training and discipline, and his hard work is paying off.

As Usaith continues to hone his skills, the country will be watching this young, precociously talented boxer. His victory at the Layton Cup is just the beginning of what promises to be a long and successful career. With the right support and experience, Usaith could be on course for more laurels with the international stage not far away carrying the legacy of Kandy’s boxing heritage with him.

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